Vehicle-mounted temperature controller

Abstract

A vehicle-mounted temperature controller used in a vehicle having a motor, a battery, and a PCU is provided with a low temperature circuit and a refrigeration circuit. The low temperature circuit has a battery heat exchanger, a PCU heat exchanger, a radiator, and a chiller, and the cooling water circulates through them. The refrigeration circuit has a condenser and the chiller absorbing heat from the cooling water to the refrigerant, and the refrigerant circulates through them. The low temperature circuit is configured to be able to switch connection states between a first state where the battery heat exchanger and the chiller are connected, the PCU heat exchanger and the radiator are connected, and the battery heat exchanger and the chiller are not connected to the PCU heat exchanger and the radiator, and a second state where the chiller, the PCU heat exchanger, and the radiator are connected.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle-mounted temperature controller used in a vehicle, the vehicle having a motor for driving a vehicle, a battery supplying electric power to the motor, and a power control unit (PCU) controlling electric power supplied to the motor, comprising:
 a first heat circuit having a battery heat exchanger exchanging heat with the battery, a PCU heat exchanger exchanging heat with the power control unit, a radiator, and a first heat exchanger, and configured so that the first heat medium circulates through them; and 
 a refrigeration circuit having a second heat exchanger discharging heat from a refrigerant to something other than the refrigerant and the first heat medium to make the refrigerant condense, and the first heat exchanger absorbing heat from the first heat medium to the refrigerant to make the refrigerant evaporate, and configured to realize a refrigeration cycle by the refrigerant being circulated through them, wherein 
 the first heat circuit is configured to be able to switch connection states between a first state where the battery heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger are connected so that the first heat medium flows through them, the PCU heat exchanger and the radiator are connected so that the first heat medium flows through them and the battery heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger are not connected to the PCU heat exchanger and the radiator in a state where the first heat medium flows through them, and a second state where the first heat exchanger, the PCU heat exchanger, and the radiator are connected so that the first heat medium flows through them, 
 wherein when a temperature of the battery is higher than the reference battery temperature, a connection state of the first heat circuit is set to the second state and a state where the battery heat exchanger is not connected to the first heat exchanger, the PCU heat exchanger, and the radiator so that the first heat medium flows through them. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a motor heat exchanger exchanging heat with the motor, wherein
 in the first state, the motor heat exchanger is connected to the PCU heat exchanger and the radiator so that the first heat medium flows through them, and the battery heat exchanger and the first heat exchanger are not connected to the PCU heat exchanger, the radiator, and the motor heat exchanger in a state where the first heat medium flows through them. 
 
     
     
       3. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 2 , wherein the first heat circuit is configured to be able to switch connection states between a state where, in the second state, the motor heat exchanger is connected to the first heat exchanger, the PCU heat exchanger, and the radiator so that the first heat medium flows through it and a state where the motor heat exchanger is not connected to the first heat exchanger, the PCU heat exchanger, and the radiator so that the first heat medium flows through it. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 3 , wherein the first heat circuit is configured so that in the second state and in a state where the motor heat exchanger is connected to the first heat exchanger, the PCU heat exchanger, and the radiator so that the first heat medium flows through them, the first heat medium circulates through the radiator, the PCU heat exchanger, and the motor heat exchanger in that order. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 2 , wherein the first heat circuit is configured so that, in the first state, the first heat medium circulates through the radiator, the PCU heat exchanger, and the motor heat exchanger in that order. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heat circuit is configured so as to be able to switch connection states, in the second state, between a state where the battery heat exchanger is connected to the first heat exchanger, the PCU heat exchanger, and the radiator so that the first heat medium flows through them, and a state where the battery heat exchanger is not connected to the first heat exchanger, the PCU heat exchanger, and the radiator so that the first heat medium flows through them. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 1 , wherein when a temperature of the battery is higher than an upper limit battery temperature, which is higher than the reference battery temperature, the connection state of the first heat circuit is set to the first state. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 1 , wherein when a temperature of the battery is equal to or less than the reference battery temperature and heating inside the compartment of the vehicle is not demanded, the connection state of the first heat circuit is set to the first state. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 1 , wherein when a temperature of the battery is equal to or less than the reference battery temperature and heating inside the compartment of the vehicle is demanded and the temperature of the first heat medium is lower than a predetermined lower limit heat medium temperature, the connection state of the first heat circuit is set to the first state. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 9 , wherein when a temperature of the battery is equal to or less than the reference battery temperature and heating inside the compartment of the vehicle is demanded and the temperature of the first heat medium is equal to or greater than the lower limit heat medium temperature, the connection state of the first heat circuit is set to the second state where the battery heat exchanger is not connected to the first heat exchanger, the PCU heat exchanger, and the radiator. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle-mounted temperature controller according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second heat circuit having a heater core performing heating of the inside of a vehicle compartment and configured so that the second heat medium circulates through the heater core, wherein
 the second heat exchanger exchanges heat between the refrigerant and the second heat medium so as to make heat move from the refrigerant to the second heat medium.